Free Pop Star Princess by Janey Louise Jones Page B

rival – Colonel Forster, with a warm handshake.
    â€œTake a pew, old boy. I’m just treating this pop group over here to lunch – they’re going to be in some contest over in Camomile Cove,” Grandpa explained, looking at the girls, who were practising the chorus of thenew song as they waited for their lunch to arrive.

    â€œAh! The talent contest. My granddaughter Lilac’s in that too,” replied the Colonel. “Remember, my daughter Martha is married to Hugh Farrington, the headmaster of Smuggler’s Cove High School? She’s a lovely girl, their daughter, Lilac. What a talent,” he continued as he sat down. “She’s just like my Martha. Y’know, Martha should’ve been on the stage. Verynearly was a star, was our Martha!”
    â€œIs that right, Philip?” asked Grandpa, rolling his eyes. Everything in the Colonel’s world was always bigger, better and more successful than anyone else’s.
    â€œIn fact,” continued Colonel Forster. “I’ve rented a cottage over in Camomile Cove to be near the family during the contest – and to take a trip down memory lane. Remember the year I discovered the wreck of an old pirate ship in the cave at Sandy Bottom? What a lot of work I did on that!”
    â€œ
You
found it, you say?
I
saw it first and showed it to you, Philip Forster!” replied Grandpa. “And I cut the timber to repair it, remember?”
    The two elderly men bickered affectionately about who had been responsible for discovering the ship and restoring it. They were still as competitive as they had been when they wereschoolboys, and the Colonel’s talk of taking a cottage in Camomile Cove had set Grandpa thinking . . .
    After lunch, once all the girls were safely back home, Grandpa settled down in his sitting room to make some telephone calls.
    â€œSilly old fool,” he chuckled to himself. “You’ve got to beat the Colonel to that old pirate ship, haven’t you?”
    The next day, which was Sunday, Grandpa, Granny Bumble and Honey came over for lunch at Poppy’s house, just like they did every week. It was a Cotton family tradition and Poppy loved it. It was as if they were one big happy family, even though Granny Bumble and Honey were not actually related to her.
    When Grandpa arrived for lunch, bringing his usual gift of some flowers from his garden and a box of chocolates, he looked very pleased with himself indeed.
    â€œWhat’s up with you, Dad?” asked Poppy’s mum. “Why the big grin?”
    â€œWell, I’ve got a surprise for everyone,” replied Grandpa. “Sit down and I’ll tell you all about it.”

    They looked at Grandpa as he began to speak – none of them had any idea what the surprise might be but they couldn’t wait to find out!
    â€œNow, you know the girls are competing in
You’re a Star!
in a couple of weeks’ time? Well, I thought it might be nice to stay in Camomile Cove since that’s where the contest is, so I’ve rented a lovely new beach-front lodge there. It’s called The Pebbles and it sleeps ten, so there’s roomfor all of us. I went to see it late yesterday afternoon and it’s wonderful. We have it for a week starting from next Sunday. I know it’s all a bit last minute, but I hope you think it’ll be fun.”
    â€œHow exciting,” said Poppy’s mum. “It sounds amazing. Thank you, Dad!”
    â€œOh, I am glad you like the idea,” smiled Grandpa. “Not only will the Beach Babes be able to rehearse as much as they like but we can all have a fine seaside holiday, which I think we’re in need of.” (He left out the bit about the house being fancier than Colonel Forster’s rented cottage, and even nearer to where he thought the old pirate ship was!)
    Poppy’s parents were thrilled with Grandpa’s surprise about the beach house. They couldn’t